The Cup Is Mine – Why Starbucks Puts Customers’ Names on the Cups
“A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” – Dale Carnegie.
Starbucks has been handing out cups with the customer’s name on them for what seems like an eternity. It’s a commonly held belief that Starbucks has personalised its customers’ drinks with their names from 1971, however, this practice was instituted only in March of 2012
Baristas at Starbucks started wearing name badges with their names on them as part of the “first name initiative” in 2012.
Nevertheless, have you ever questioned why Starbucks makes this decision? Why didn’t other coffee shops follow Starbucks’ lead?
- Better Customer Experience
Coffee shops abound, and many of them provide excellent brews. By providing the finest possible customer experience, Starbucks aims to differentiate itself from the numerous coffee shops
Due to the sense of belonging and community that Starbucks provides, customers will choose to buy the same cup of coffee from them even if they can pick it up elsewhere.
Having your name printed on a cup gives you a sense of belonging and appreciation because of the tremendous influence that addressing someone by name has.
“A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” – Dale Carnegie.
For whatever reason, knowing your barista’s name and having them know yours may not seem like much, but it establishes a personal connection between you and the coffee business.
Starbucks employees who know you by name may even write it on your cup if you are a frequent customer. But at some other place, the only thing the barista will recall about you is your order.
When people call someone by their name rather than “the usual?” they feel more connected and connected to them.
- Self-Promotion
Starbucks discovered that jotting down names improved productivity while also raising awareness of the brand.
Starbucks misspells names on occasion (though not always). Do you believe they’ll be displeased? No, not at all. Starbucks, on the other hand, is perceived as more than just a place to get a coffee.
It’s not just Starbucks that gets a bad rap from some customers. In the course of ordering beverages, they come up with witty nicknames such as “Dad, Mom, Mr King, Queen, Lord, God, or Boss.
Funny Name Jokes have emerged as the most efficient means of increasing brand visibility. Social networking is a great place for people to post the funniest things they’ve seen or heard.
- Customers should feel like they are part of Starbucks
Customers enjoy having their names on their drinkware because it gives them a sense of pride in their purchase. Only I am the owner of this cup of coffee, and no one else has any claim to it.
Because our names appear on the cups, we have a stronger connection to Starbucks and its products. There is a possibility that we will experience a sense of pride in this product.
- Operational Efficiency
A more practical reason for writing names on a cup at Starbucks is that it aids both the customers and Starbucks in preventing orders from being mixed up.
At peak times, having individualised glasses is very convenient. The lack of names on the coffee cups makes it nearly impossible for customers to identify theirs among the ten that are waiting to be picked up.
As a result, the fewer customers who pick up the wrong order the better, as Starbucks needs to entirely redo that drink if someone drinks the incorrect one.
Names are easier to remember than random numbers, thus baristas find it easier to remember and arrange orders. “James Bond” rather than “Order 117” is referred to as an order.
- A two-way conversation/ Dialogue
Every time a Starbucks employee asks for the name of a customer, they are probing for additional information. Thus, clients are eager to inform Starbucks of any unique requirements they may have. Customer satisfaction is boosted by the perception that Starbucks is responding to their concerns.
Dialogue is critical for businesses. Customers won’t care as much about a brand if it doesn’t answer their demands. Those that care about their customers are more likely to stick with them. Customers will be more engaged with the business and have a better overall experience if the company asks and responds to their specific demands.
- Conclusions
Starbucks takes great pleasure in the quality of both its products and the service it provides to its customers. Purchasing their daily coffee feel more like a part of a community rather than a financial transaction. Starbucks appears to be taking full use of the power of using someone’s name to strengthen your relationship with them.
